Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Madaba Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Madaba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $827 in Madaba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,425 in Madaba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,023 in Madaba.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 167% more expensive than Madaba, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Madaba is 38% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Madaba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$5.71 JOD 4.04
178.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$49.84 JOD 35.27
29.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$6.22 JOD 4.40
68.97%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$3.54 JOD 2.51
-18.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$0.48 JOD 0.34
366.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$0.37 JOD 0.27
305.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$4.20 JOD 2.97
-16.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$7.12 JOD 5.04
-45.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Madaba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.43 JOD 1.01
-20.28%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$0.52 JOD 0.37
236.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$1.62 JOD 1.15
8.64%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$1.70 JOD 1.21
89.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$4.25 JOD 3.01
217.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$5.70 JOD 4.03
38.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$11.28 JOD 7.98
40.69%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$1.97 JOD 1.39
17.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$1.38 JOD 0.98
23.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$1.43 JOD 1.01
40.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$0.68 JOD 0.48
261.76%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$0.70 JOD 0.49
162.86%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$0.69 JOD 0.49
189.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$0.37 JOD 0.26
421.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.58 JOD 0.41
36.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$2.11 JOD 1.49
213.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$20.87 JOD 14.77
-72.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$4.86 JOD 3.44
-71.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$5.56 JOD 3.93
-46.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Madaba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$0.88 JOD 0.63
169.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
$69.2 JOD 49.00
-34.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$0.68 JOD 0.48
530.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$1.44 JOD 1.02
-43.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$6.89 JOD 4.87
165.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$1.43 JOD 1.01
44.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$27.2K JOD 19.2K
26.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$32.9K JOD 23.3K
19.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Madaba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$70.0 JOD 49.56
111.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$14.32 JOD 10.14
43.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$21.23 JOD 15.03
86.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Madaba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$27.95 JOD 19.78
71.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
$70.9 JOD 50.2
-73.32%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$11.17 JOD 7.90
-17.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Madaba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$42.18 JOD 29.85
1355.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$1,121 JOD 794
1331.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Madaba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$61.3 JOD 43.35
70.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$49.58 JOD 35.09
-15.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$64.2 JOD 45.42
46.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$34.90 JOD 24.70
242.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Madaba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$177 JOD 126
817.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$126 JOD 89.0
898.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$393 JOD 278
671.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$357 JOD 253
465.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Madaba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
$502 JOD 356
219.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
6.25
-39.04%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Madaba: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $177 in Madaba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 219% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $50.0 in Madaba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $224 per month, with Madaba cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Lisbon vs Madaba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Madaba?
Lisbon and Madaba differ by about 167% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $827 including rent). Madaba is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Madaba?
Lisbon pays 219% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Madaba?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $177 in Madaba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Madaba?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $42.18 in Madaba. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $827 in Madaba versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Madaba but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Madaba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Madaba?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Madaba safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Madaba are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Madaba?
Expats usually find Madaba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 167% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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